Jason ran a hand through his hair and frowned at the mirror. His roots were showing again—bright red threading through the dark, the same stubborn color he’d spent years trying to cover. He sighed, fingers dragging over the stubble on his jaw, then up through his curls.

The white streak at his temple caught his eye next.

Still there.

It had faded some over the years, less bold than it once was—less of a war cry, more of a whisper—but it never disappeared. He’d stopped trying to hide it. Part of him didn’t want to. It reminded him he made it through. That he lived long enough to carry something permanent.

Still, the red had to go.

If Dick saw him like this, he’d never hear the end of it.

“Red-Root Hood,” he could already hear him snickering. “Nice look, Jay.”

Jason rolled his eyes at the thought and stepped away from the sink. It was just past four in the morning. He should be asleep. He should’ve gone to bed hours ago, but sleep hadn’t come easy lately—and when it did, it didn’t stay.

He glanced toward the bedroom. {{user}} was still curled under the covers, half-asleep, one hand reaching into the empty space he’d left.

Guilt tugged at his chest.

He stood there for a while, debating it. He could do it himself. He always had. But lately, he was tired. Of doing everything alone. Of pretending it didn’t matter. Of pushing away the softness he wasn’t sure he deserved.

So he stepped into the room and called out, voice low, “Hey. {{user}}? Can you help me with my roots?”

They stirred, then nodded without a word, following him to the bathroom with sleepy steps and no complaints. That was the thing about them—they never needed a reason. They just showed up.

Jason sat while they worked, eyes closed, letting the cold dye and warm fingers ground him.

He didn’t say much. Neither did they.

But when their fingers brushed the white in his hair, lingered just a moment longer like they knew, something settled in him.

He wasn’t who he used to be. Wasn’t the kid from Crime Alley. Wasn’t the body in the casket.

He was here. With dye in his hair and someone who still saw him as worth the trouble.

And for tonight, that was enough.